Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 08:57:28 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from ylpvm29.prodigy.net ([207.115.57.60] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2) with ESMTP id 394691 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 05 Sep 2004 22:11:33 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=207.115.57.60; envelope-from=lmetcalf@swbell.net Received: from leemetca (adsl-64-216-155-6.dsl.kscymo.swbell.net [64.216.155.6]) by ylpvm29.prodigy.net (8.12.10 outbound/8.12.10) with SMTP id i862ArNW016600 for ; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 22:10:53 -0400 X-Original-Message-ID: <000601c493b6$e2a40ef0$6501a8c0@leemetca> From: "Lee Metcalfe" X-Original-To: Subject: [LML] Formation 101 X-Original-Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 21:11:56 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0003_01C4938C.F9800E00" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0003_01C4938C.F9800E00 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I am a former Naval Aviator. At least 2/3 of my 1600 military hours = were flown in formation. I have another hundred hours or so of civilian = formation. The skill of the civilians I have flown with reflected the = skill of the nasal radiators I have flown with, given a comparable = number of hours of formation training. In other words, I have flown = with some boys with golden crotch keys who scared the bejeezus out of = me, and I have flown with some civilians who I would put my canopy = within 5 feet of their wing-tip and feel just as confident as with the = best of my squadron mates. It comes down to basic stick & rudder skills = and the proper QUALITY of training. You MUST get training from a = competent, qualified instructor (not necessarily a CFI) and you MUST fly = form on a regular basis, or you will be dangerous to yourself and = others. If you don't have a full understanding of relative motion, = intercept angle, sight picture, running rendezvous, cross-under, and = being acute or sucked, don't even think about flying close to another = airplane on purpose. My 2 cents. Lee "Moondog" Metcalfe ------=_NextPart_000_0003_01C4938C.F9800E00 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I am a former Naval Aviator. At = least 2/3 of=20 my 1600 military hours were flown in formation. I have another = hundred=20 hours or so of civilian formation. The skill of the civilians I = have flown=20 with reflected the skill of the nasal radiators I have flown with, given = a=20 comparable number of hours of formation training. In other words, = I have=20 flown with some boys with golden crotch keys who scared the bejeezus out = of me,=20 and I have flown with some civilians who I would put my canopy within 5 = feet of=20 their wing-tip and feel just as confident as with the best of my = squadron=20 mates. It comes down to basic stick & rudder skills and the = proper=20 QUALITY of training. You MUST get training from a competent, = qualified=20 instructor (not necessarily a CFI) and you MUST fly form on a regular = basis, or=20 you will be dangerous to yourself and others. If you don't have a = full=20 understanding of relative motion, intercept angle, sight picture, = running=20 rendezvous, cross-under, and being acute or sucked, don't even think = about=20 flying close to another airplane on purpose.

My 2 cents.

Lee "Moondog" Metcalfe

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